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Enhancing searches for astrophysical neutrino sources in IceCube with machine learning and improved spatial modeling

  • Icecube Collaboration
  • University of Delaware
  • RWTH Aachen University
  • Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
  • Adelaide University
  • Loyola University Chicago
  • German Electron Synchrotron
  • University of Canterbury
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Université libre de Bruxelles
  • University of Copenhagen
  • TU Dortmund University
  • University of Kansas
  • Marquette University
  • Harvard University
  • University of Utah
  • Michigan State University
  • South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
  • University of California at Irvine
  • Technical University of Munich
  • University of California at Berkeley
  • Ohio State University
  • Ruhr University Bochum
  • Uppsala University
  • University of Rochester
  • University of Maryland, College Park
  • University of Padua
  • University of Alabama
  • Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
  • Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Queen's University Kingston

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Abstract

Searches for astrophysical neutrino sources in IceCube rely on an unbinned likelihood that consists of an energy and spatial component. Accurate modeling of the detector, ice, and spatial distributions leads to improved directional and energy reconstructions, resulting in increased sensitivity. In this work, we utilize our best knowledge of the detector ice properties and detector calibrations to reconstruct in-ice particle showers. The spatial component of the likelihood is parameterized either by a 2D Gaussian or a von Mises Fisher (vMF) distribution at small and large angular uncertainties, respectively. Here, we use a gradient-boosted decision tree with a vMF spatial likelihood loss function, reparameterized through two coordinate transformations, to predict per-event point spread functions (PSF). Additionally, we discuss the search for PeV cosmic ray sources using the IceCube Multi-Flavor Astrophysical Neutrino (ICEMAN) sample. Our search contains both an analysis of individual neutrino sources coincident with greater than 100 TeV gamma-ray sources and also a stacking analysis. We outline the prospects for extended neutrino emission originating from the Cygnus Cocoon region.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1169
JournalProceedings of Science
Volume501
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 30 2025
Event39th International Cosmic Ray Conference, ICRC 2025 - Geneva, Switzerland
Duration: Jul 15 2025Jul 24 2025

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